Advice for College Transfer Students
What We Learned From Our Own Experiences Transferring
This list is compiled from three different people's experiences as college transfer students. To hear more about the stories of where we transferred from, how it went, etc., watch the video above. In this article, we are going to focus on advice for those of you who are getting ready to transfer, or already have transferred from one college to another. These tips are taken from the video, but expanded upon. We hope this helps. Best of luck to all you college students out there!
1. Make sure your credits transfer.
Classes are not always exactly the same at every college. Therefore, when you switch colleges, depending on the classes you took, there may or may not be equivalent classes between the two. For example, almost every college offers Statistics 100, so if you took that at one institution, you will probably get credit for it at any other. But something more specific like Social Media Marketing might not have an equivalent at the college you are transferring to (sometimes they will accept it as a general elective credit). It's best to go somewhere where your credits transfer so you don't end up wasting the time and money you spent on a class.
2. Look for transfer student events.
Once you get to your new school, you will want to start building community among your peers. This can mean going to any general school events where you will meet any and all of the students at your school. However, it can also be nice to build community among other transfer students specifically. These people went through the same, or similar, experience you did, so you already have a bonding quality and conversation topic. Once you get to your new school, look around and see what they have to offer. There might be transfer meet and greets, or retreats for transfer students. Get out there!
3. Don't expect the same treatment you got as a freshman.
We're gonna be real with you for a second. As a transfer student, your school may not prioritize you as much as they prioritize freshmen. You will most likely not get the same hand-holding treatment that you did during your first year of college. This can be a good and bad thing, as you may feel like you need more help, but it forces you to be independent and seek out help on your own. When in doubt, check your school's website. It pretty much tells you how to do anything if you search for it. You'll be fine!
4. Take the leap of faith.
Transferring can be scary. It can be difficult to know if you're making the right decision, if you're going to happy at your new school. But at the end of the day, if you're not happy with the school you go to, you should make a change. There is no use in hanging around if you're just going to be miserable. Have some confidence in yourself. Take the leap of faith. It will be frightening. It will be difficult to have to start again, but you can do it. Immerse yourself in your new environment, and be happy!
5. Own it!
Transfer students are known for being the most school-spirited and hard working. Being a transfer student makes you a part of an amazing community. You had courage to make a change in your life. You worked hard to get where you are, and that is something to be proud of! Best of luck to all you transfer students out there! The last thing to keep in mind is that transferring is not as hard as you may think. There are plenty of people who went through the same thing and survived! Good luck!
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Reese Marie
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